The Coalition and Labor have agreed to a new target for renewable energy of 33,000 gigawatt hours down from the existing target of 41,000.

Senator Lazarus supports the higher target. “I cannot and will not be part of this dirty deal that reduces Australia’s renewable energy target (RET) and our country’s commitment to the renewable energy sector,” he told the Senate. “If the Abbott Government and the Opposition are successful in reducing Australia’s renewable energy target, Australia will become the first country in the world to reduce a RET. “I cannot and will not be part of this despicable act.”

Senator Lazarus said the Abbott Government’s reluctance to commit to the RET of 41,000 eroded confidence in the sector, which in turn caused a significant and sharp downturn of investment.

“I can only assume that political donations being made by rich, multi-national mining companies to the pockets of the Coalition is affecting the Federal Government’s decision making,” he said.

Victorian Ricky Muir was a supporter of the higher target, but said the issue dragged on so long while the two big parties negotiated that it had become much harder to achieve that figure. He is now backing the lower target Labor and the Coalition eventually agreed on. “Let’s get it through and restore investor confidence to an industry that employs thousands of people both in my state of Victoria and throughout Australia,” he told the Senate.”http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-18/glenn-lazarus-accuses-government-labor-of-dirty-ret-deal/6554764